* Jeff and Penny Vinik have pledged a $5 million donation for an on-campus USF stadium. Last month Frank and Carol Morsani also donated $5 million. That kind of generosity—not surprising from the Viniks and the Morsanis—still leaves USF with a steep, money-raising challenge. The facility’s cost is expected to be at least $200 million.
* The Rays home opener at the Trop was a sell-out. For the record, that’s 25,025—with the Trop’s upper deck closed.
* The Rays 2022 payroll: $78.2 million, a team record.
* More than one in four MLB players were born outside the U.S. The top three: Dominican Republic (99), Venezuela (67) and Cuba (23).
* Russian and Belarusian runners who are residents of those countries will not be able to participate in this month’s Boston Marathon.